Weekly Rankings: Week 8 Value Meter

Jeff Erickson is a co-founder of RotoWire.com and the only two-time winner of Baseball Writer of the Year from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. He roots for the Reds, Bengals, Red Wings, Pacers and Northwestern University (the real NU).

***Massive bye week - BALTIMORE, CHICAGO, HOUSTON, INDIANAPOLIS, SAN DIEGO and TENNESSEE are all on bye this week!!!***

Here are our rankings for the coming week at each position to help you decide your starting lineup. Our rankings are based on the following scoring system: three points for a passing touchdown; six points for a rushing/receiving touchdown; one point for every 20 passing yards; and one point for every 10 rushing/receiving yards. Flex Rankings are for PPR leagues.

This article will be posted on Tuesday evenings, followed by two updates later in the week, usually on Thursday and then Sunday morning.

By all means, if you want to discuss a rank, or want me to add a player, chime in on the comments. I try to be receptive to your feedback and try to respond to most comments, though on occasion the volume can be quite thick. Please refer to the rankings first when asking "should I start Player A vs. Player B?".

I repeat, ***BALTIMORE, CHICAGO, HOUSTON, INDIANAPOLIS, SAN DIEGO and TENNESSEE on bye this week!!!***

*Peyton Manning DEN vs. WasNote: (Ankle) Full practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday. ***Chris Mortensen reports that Manning is dealing with two sprained ankles, one of which is a high ankle sprain.***

*Michael Vick PHI vs. NYGNote: (Hamstring) Took the first-team reps Tuesday, but still isn't sure if he'll be able to start. Full practice again Thursday. Still concerned about his lack of bravado earlier in the week, but he's trending upward at least. ***Full practice Friday, listed as probable. ***

Eli Manning NYG at PhiNote: Made to look better merely based on the ineptitude of Josh Freeman, but 200 yards and a pick on 39 attempts is not what we'd call good. Was lucky not to throw a pick-six in the game, too.

17.

Andy Dalton CIN vs. NYJNote: Has back-to-back 300-yard, three-touchdown games, though he's still having trouble with the deep ball.

*Nick Foles PHI vs. NYGNote: Suffered a concussion against the Cowboys, did not practice Tuesday. Doing some conditioning work, but not yet cleared to practice. *** Officially out. ***

30.

*Josh Freeman MIN vs. GBNote: Gets to follow up his dumpster fire performance on Monday night with another prime time start, this time on Sunday night against the Packers. Suffered a concussion Monday night, and while he's making progress in his recovery, he's unlikely to play Sunday night. Christian Ponder is more likely to start. *** Officially out, Matt Cassel will be the backup. ***

*Fred Jackson BUF at NONote: Aggravated a sprained MCL in the win over the Dolphins, yet plugged on after a brief absence in the game. Sat out Wednesday, but returned to practice Thursday, while Spiller was held out. ***Bumped up with Spiller out.***

*Peyton Hillis NYG at PhiNote: Best description of his game Monday night on Twitter? 'Looks as if he's pulling an ice truck.' Still, he was better than Cox, and was active in the passing game. ***Brandon Jacobs is doubtful, Hillis will start again.***

*Joseph Randle DAL at DetNote: Status really unstable. Could start and get lots of carries, or could be absolutely buried. ***Murray out, Dunbar active. Randle expected to start, but how much work will he actually get?

*C.J. Spiller BUF at NONote: According to coach Doug Marrone, Spiller's ankle injury has 'everything to do' with his poor production. Ok, that's great - we've got a reason. Now when we can we expect him fully healthy? He's quickly approaching Roddy White territory - hurting his value by playing through it. Did not practice Thursday - appears to be difference of opinion between Spiller and the coaching staff about his health. Possible that the Bills could rest him this week. ***Listed as doubtful.***

65.

*DeMarco Murray DAL at DetNote: (Knee) Limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday. Though some reports point towards him playing, he's an uncertain option for this week. The team later reiterated Thursday that Murray is in line to play. *** Ruled out after testing his knee in warmups. ***

66.

*Jason Snelling ATL at AriNote: (Ankle) Did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. Value slipping anyhow with Steven Jackson getting close to returning. ***Out this week.***

67.

*Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. WasNote: Hillman's lost fumble, the latest in a series of fumbles, could hurt his playing time. ***Inactive this week, in favor of C.J. Anderson.***

68.

*Brandon Jacobs NYG at PhiNote: (Hamstring) 'Hoping and praying' that he can return this week after sitting out the Monday night game. Did not practice Thursday. ***Listed as doubtful, but did travel with the team.***

69.

*Rashard Mendenhall ARZ vs. AtlNote: (Toe) Has not practiced this week. *** Will not play this week. ***

70.

*Jonathan Stewart CAR at TBNote: (Ankle) Expected to practice this week, though with a short week, he may not play.

*Doug Martin TB vs. CarNote: Torn shoulder labrum, out indefinitely. Not yet willing to concede he's out for the season, but right now working on building strength in shoulder, will not play Thursday night.

*Golden Tate SEA at StLNote: Sprained his foot Thursday against the Cardinals, then left Tuesday's practice with a sore shoulder. Went through Thursday's walk-through without a setback. ***Listed as probable for Monday night.***

Marquise Goodwin BUF at NONote: Only on the field for five offensive snaps last week, despite the huge play against the Bengals the previous week. With Stevie Johnson back, he was back to being the fourth receiver.

*James Jones GB at MinNote: (Knee) Originally given 2-to-3 week timetable, but there's some hope among the Packers he could return this week. We'll leave him down here until we get more definitive word. Didn't practice Wednesday and Thursday.

79.

*Percy Harvin SEA at StLNote: (Hip) Returned to practice Monday, though he hasn't yet officially been activated from the PUP list. Status for Monday night still uncertain. If I owned him, I'd keep him benched at least for one more week - watch from afar, because even if he plays, he could be on a limited snap count. ***Will not play Monday night.***

*Santonio Holmes NYJ at CinNote: (Hamstring) Not optimistic about returning this week.

82.

*Miles Austin DAL at DetNote: (Hamstring) On the field for only 37 of 77 total snaps, and might be shut down to fully heal. Limited Thursday, after first rumored to miss the practice. ***Inactive this week.***

Tight Ends

1.

*Rob Gronkowski NE vs. MiaNote: Had a whopping 17 targets in his 2013 debut. Limited Wednesday and Thursday - expect this pattern the rest of the season.

*Jimmy Graham NO vs. BufNote: (Foot) Uncertain to play this week - we'll leave him down here unless and until he practices. Has not practiced yet this week. ***Active despite just one limited practice Friday.***

10.

*Jeff Cumberland NYJ at CinNote: Came up short a couple of times against the Patriots, but this is a good matchup. (Hamstring) Limited in Thursday's practice. ***Listed as probable.***

11.

*Andrew Quarless GB at MinNote: Expected to take over at tight end with Finley hurt.

12.

Charles Clay MIA at NENote: Caught a touchdown, but only had three targets.

*Jordan Reed WAS at DenNote: Suffered a hip contusion in the win over the Bears, but kept on playing. Full practice Wednesday.

44.

*Darren McFadden OAK vs. PitNote: (Hamstring) Able to practice Monday, expected to be pretty close to full strength after the bye.

45.

*Fred Jackson BUF at NONote: Aggravated a sprained MCL in the win over the Dolphins, yet plugged on after a brief absence in the game. Sat out Wednesday, but returned to practice Thursday, while Spiller was held out. ***Bumped up with Spiller out.***

46.

*Joseph Randle DAL at DetNote: Status really unstable. Could start and get lots of carries, or could be absolutely buried. ***Murray out, Dunbar active. Randle expected to start, but how much work will he actually get?

*Peyton Hillis NYG at PhiNote: Best description of his game Monday night on Twitter? 'Looks as if he's pulling an ice truck.' Still, he was better than Cox, and was active in the passing game. ***Brandon Jacobs is doubtful, Hillis will start again.***

54.

*C.J. Spiller BUF at NONote: According to coach Doug Marrone, Spiller's ankle injury has 'everything to do' with his poor production. Ok, that's great - we've got a reason. Now when we can we expect him fully healthy? He's quickly approaching Roddy White territory - hurting his value by playing through it. Did not practice Thursday - appears to be difference of opinion between Spiller and the coaching staff about his health. Possible that the Bills could rest him this week. ***Listed as doubtful.***

55.

*Chris Ivory NYJ at CinNote: Had a whopping 34 carries in the win over the Pats, with just three for Powell.

*Golden Tate SEA at StLNote: Sprained his foot Thursday against the Cardinals, then left Tuesday's practice with a sore shoulder. Went through Thursday's walk-through without a setback. ***Listed as probable for Monday night.***

97.

*Marcel Reece OAK vs. PitNote: Team wants to get Reece more touches, we'll see how that desire translates.